Policeman 'tried to save' Nicholas Azzopardi

A policeman was slightly injured trying "to save Nicholas Azzopardi from jumping off a wall", police sources told The Times, adding a new twist to the mystery shrouding the death of the 38-year-old.

The officer, who was escorting Mr Azzopardi, was treated in hospital for scratches on his forearms and chest injuries "which the doctor confirmed were exactly compatible with somebody trying to hold onto someone hanging from a wall", the sources said yesterday.

Before he died on April 22, Mr Azzopardi confided in his family and the magistrate that he had been brutally beaten by police and thrown off the bastions.

The story began on the afternoon of April 8 when Mr Azzopardi was called in for questioning at the police headquarters in Floriana on family issues.

He recounted how he was taunted and beaten in the lock-up by two policemen, but also admitted that he retaliated against one of the interrogators by crushing him against the lock-up's metal door. In turn, an officer, possibly trained in martial arts, flung a side kick, breaking four ribs and puncturing his lung.

The victim told his family he lost consciousness and only fully came to his senses 13 days later in hospital.

Police sources deny Mr Azzopardi was ever pushed or beaten.

Nonetheless, this fresh information marks a new development, especially since the role of the officer said to have tried to save Mr Azzopardi was never mentioned by the police to date, officially or otherwise.

The statement released on April 9 by the police said that Mr Azzopardi "managed to escape from the police who was escorting him and tried to run away by jumping to the other side, where there is the trade school".

The police informed the family of these developments by calling in Mr Azzopardi's brother, Reno, to the headquarters.

Reno Azzopardi recounted at a press conference how when he got there, Police Inspector Louise Calleja, "in a trembling voice", informed him that his brother had fallen off the bastions after he escaped police custody, "hurting a policeman" in the process.

Was a policeman injured in a scuffle with Mr Azzopardi or did he get hurt trying to save him? Did Mr Azzopardi try to escape?

"No policeman was ever beaten by Nicholas. The policeman who was with him actually tried to stop him from falling off," the sources said.

The sources explained that on April 9 the police needed to search Mr Azzopardi's car. As they were crossing what is known as the CID yard, the officers realised that the victim's wife was waiting in the reception area of the CID.

"In a bid to avoid a confrontation, one of the officers went to address his wife. Another policeman went to the back with Mr Azzopardi, while his wife was admitted to the offices," the sources said.

"CCTV footage shows Nicholas walking on his own, but the shadow of the escorting police, who was at a distance, is visible. Mr Azzopardi was not held in handcuffs, there was no reason for that.

"The camera then shows Nicholas peering over the wall and walking further up along this wall."

The camera footage stops there. The sources said that Mr Azzopardi then "suddenly pounced on the wall" and that is when the policeman intervened and tried to prevent him from jumping.

"The policeman managed to cling on to him. But while Nicholas was a big boy this officer was a weed next to him. He never got a beating.On the contrary, when he tried to hold on to him he scratched his forearms and chest against the wall.

"The police was trying to prevent him from falling off. Unfortunately, there was no choice but to let Nicholas go - it was either that or the two of them would have tumbled down the bastions," the sources said.

As days pass and new information surfaces, the story becomes increasingly puzzling. While the family is standing by the story Mr Azzopardi told them on his deathbed, police sources question how he could have been beaten when the man spent seven hours in hospital, under two different medical teams, between April 8 and 9.

Police sources have said records exist showing Mr Azzopardi was admitted to hospital twice complaining of chest pains, the second time closely following the first, early in the morning on April 9.

Dr Raphael Fenech Adami, the deceased's lawyer, confirmed the version of facts given by Reno Azzopardi and said the victim had given him the same version of events.

"He (Nicholas) was conscious and said what was reported by the family," Dr Fenech Adami said.

The lawyer stopped short of giving further information, or to give a personal assessment of the testimony, adding that he would rather wait for the outcome of the magisterial inquiry.

Meanwhile, the police too are eagerly awaiting the conclusions of the two ongoing inquiries before making any official comments.

Besides the magisterial inquiry, which began on the day of the fall on Wednesday, April 9, the government on Tuesday ordered another investigation to look into the alleged police beatings.

The original inquiry might take another week and it seemed unlikely to be concluded by the end of the week as the government was initially expecting, sources said yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Advocates last night issued a statement calling for an official clarification on the function of the two inquiries, to ensure the process is not duplicated and potentially lead to conflicting conclusions.

"The Chamber notes that (retired) Judge Albert Manche is assigned to conduct a special inquiry into the circumstances of Nicholas Azzopardi's death, while Magistrate Anthony Vella is already conducting a magisterial inquiry into the same incident. It is important that it does not come across that there is a lack of confidence in the judicial process," the chamber said.

However, Justice Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici said when contacted that he had full faith in the magisterial inquiry, but he wanted to ensure that no stone was left unturned in this investigation.

Correction

In a story which appeared yesterday in The Times, entitled I Was Beaten Up At The Depot, in connection with the allegations being made by Nicholas Azzopardi on his deathbed, former Assistant Commissioner Emmanuel Cassar was reported to have assisted the inquiring magistrate when the late Mr Azzopardi was questioned.

It was not Emmanuel Cassar - who is no longer a member of the police force - but Assistant Commissioner Michael Cassar who accompanied the magistrate. The error is regretted.